THE GOVERNOR HAS TO GET, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING

Phoenix, June 23 – The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry honored a trio of lawmakers, one former governor and the current governor at their annual awards ceremony yesterday. Gov. Doug Ducey took home a “Champion of Legal Reform” award for putting his signature on a pair of tort measures: Sen. John Kavanagh’s Laws 2015, Chapter 61 (S1048: vexatious litigants; fees; costs; designation) and Rep. Sonny Borrelli’s Laws 2015, Chapter 246 (H2603: personal injury action; asbestos; reqs), which Ducey ceremonially signed at the forum. One Republican lawmaker said, “Champion of Legal Reform” doesn’t sound like a real award, and if so, it should come from ALEC since Borrelli’s legislation is actually an ALEC model bill. But while that title isn’t one of its standard awards, spokesman Garrick Taylor said the chamber has in the past given shout-outs to other leaders specifically for their work in tort reform. Meanwhile, to the chagrin of some Democrats in the room, Sen. Carlyle Begay was named “Senator of the Year.” He got the award for the independence he displayed, not just in voting for the budget, but also for his “leadership on tough issues statewide, both rural and urban,” Taylor said, noting Begay’s Laws 2015, Chapter 225 (S1332 empowerment scholarship accounts; open enrollment). One Democrat at the event quipped that the chamber “gave all the awards to Republicans.” Rep. David Livingston was awarded “Representative of the Year” for his work on insurance premiums: Laws 2015, Chapter 220 (HB2568: insurance premium tax reduction). Rep. Jeff Weninger won the “Rookie of the Year” award for his work on crowdfunding legislation: Laws 2015, Chapter 185 (H2591: securities registration; exemption; website operators). Begay wasn’t the only Dem honored at the event, but he was the only living Dem to get an award. Former governor Raul Castro was posthumously awarded as “Transformational Leader.”